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Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
Neighborhood: H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near NortheastBuy One Get one Free, buy anyone item and get a second choice free. Equal or lessor value. Mention this code http://www.ilovesticky.../
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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I ADORE this place. Just when I thought this town had a prohibition against good sushi (Raku and Sushi Ko really don't make the grade. Sushi Taro: come back!!!!!), Sticky Rice completely redeemed Washington DC Sushi during my fabulous Friday night feast! This place is not Morimoto. There is no $100 Omakase, no super expensive frou-frou cocktails or postmodern decor that typically goes along with a high end spot. What sticky rice does offer is inventive sushi creations, whimsical maki rolls, flavor combinations that at times verge on ethereal, and great staff in a high-energy and fun environment.
We sat down at the bar to wait for a table (yes, you will wait on Friday) and within a short time the awesomely hispter bartender brought us over a free shot made with Lychee; both creative and Delicious. The bar has a very fun vibe. The music selection is fantastic, hip-hop, rock, punk, very very cool. Giant screens on the walls play Japanese movies and give a really cool visual aesthetic. Having so much fun, we decided we'd eat at the bar. The Godzirra roll, although a bit politically incorrect, was DELISH. Billy Goat's Gruff melted in my mouth. Everything was fun, creative, tasty and beautifully presented.
After dinner, we could not resist the saki-bomb (a shot of saki dropped into a glass of Sapporo). Not surprisingly, Sticky Rice even made the saki-bomb more fun. When you drop the saki into the glass, the bartender hits a giant gong that's situated behind the bar.
As you may have guessed, this is not the best place for children. Probably not great for the over-thirty crowd either.
this place has deeeelicious food. i love the curry shrimp bowl. MMM! and the godzirra roll.
the ribs are lip smacking good, too.
also? they play some good music. my friends and i were dancing in the booth and rapping a little bit while we ate.
What's not to like? It's good sushi, lots of interesting rolls, quality sashimi, extremely affordable, laid back atmosphere and (HIIIIIIIYAA!) kung foo movies.
The staff is really friendly and you can hang out and actually enjoy your food/drinks without any fuss. Not sure what else to say other than I'll be back bitches!
One word comes to mind...unimpressed. Came here on the recommendation of our friend, after finding out that PS7 was closed on Sunday. We ordered the Sticky Balls, Thai-Knee fried rice, Crunchy Shrimp roll and Avacodo roll, from the Sunday Brunch menu.
The rolls and the fried rice lacked flavor. The sticky balls were actually not too bad, but I have a hard time seeing what was so great about that based on other reviews. The only thing cute about this restaurant was the little bear shaped wasabi.
We left pretty disappointed. If I came here again it certainly wouldn't be during Sunday brunch. And to add insult, I found out after going here that they were doing their buy one get one free promo.
I'm not a fan of the "hipster" movement and H St. has turned into a FULL BLAST hipster area....but I must say that Sticky Rice does have a really cool set up on H St. I've sat downstairs and upstairs and it's like 2 different worlds. Upstairs is a bit more private and dinner-like setting, downstairs is a little more crowded and lively with Kung-Fu movies being projected on the flat screens to keep me entertained. Nice touch.
The Sushi there IS hands down awesome, but I've also gone there to try out their other dishes and have NEVER been disappointed ever. So that speaks for itself aside from all the hipsters I was surrounded by.
Not gonna lie, I have no desire to eat here. I'd like my sushi without a side of heavy-handed irony and affected kitsch, thank you very much. However, I give it a super-starry rating because everybody in the bar, including the bartenders, was singing along to "Killing Me Softly" when I walked in at 1am on Sunday morning, in the sweetest and sincerest and most neighbourhood-iest of ways, so props for making my small heart grow three sizes that day.
Sticky Rice is still one of my favorite restaurants, however my past few visits have let me down a bit.
Although the portions are still rather generous, the prices have gone up. Also, my Godzirra Roll was doused with all of the delicious goo from the sauces...to a fault. My roll had been drowned.
The service has also been a bit of a disappointment recently. On one afternoon I dropped by for lunch and stood downstairs without being helped for about 5-10 minutes before someone came downstairs to tell me that lunch was being served upstairs. Don't get me wrong, the servers are super nice and all, but they are either being stretched too thin or are a bit too nonchalant.
Tis' all good however, because the Sticky Balls have never failed me. It's hard to go wrong with tasty balls.
I looove Sticky Rice. Although, for me the location is a bit out of the way, it is always worth the… Read more »
The service at Sticky Rice is so horrendous that I won't be back. The first time I went, my fiance and I received our appetizer quickly, but then had to wait at least 45 minutes for two orders of rolls (that's 45 minutes after finishing our appetizer; not 45 minutes after ordering). During this time, the table next to us, who sat down after us but who clearly knew the staff, received plate after plate AFTER PLATE of rolls. We suspect they forgot to enter our order, because when we finally flagged down our waiter, it still took a while for the rolls to come out. He did offer us sake on the house, which was classy, but we were already drinking some -- and there's really no excuse for two orders of rolls taking an hour.
The second time I came back here (begrudgingly dragged by friends), the service was not much better. Items were forgotten, drinks were ignored, and our waiter was nowhere to be found.
Rolls were pretty good, but can't make up for the terrible service. As for the tots, I don't think they delight me as much as other reviewers -- yes, I adore tater tots, but greasy fried food isn't generally what I go to sushi places for. There's a time and a place for tots, and this just ain't it.
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
I think this place should be re-named " Greasy Rice."
NOTE: 2-stars because I really liked the crowd and the vibe, that bar will be seeing me again.
I went with my friend Stephanie who raved about the sticky balls. We each got an order, and they WERE yummy, but I swear the stomach-ache I had afterwards was the worst I have had in a long time. It was fried and drenched in a cloying sauce. Just not something that settles well.
We also split an oder of noodles. I can't tell you what kind. They were supposed to be spicy, but they were blah. So you could probably order any of the noodle dishes and have it taste the same.
There's little chance I would try the sushi here--I'm wary of any place that attempts to do too many different types of Asian food. I think they should figure out what they do well and stick to it. Here, they randomly throw together random Asian dishes and... tator tots? Come to think of it, that's probably what I should have ordered.
It's not bad, it's just not anything I would make a special trip for. You've got better stuff in walking distance. So visit them.
I really want to like Sticky Rice. It is sooooo hip, why can't I like it? I have eaten here on three different occasions hoping my luck would change and I could enjoy my sushi, but it has not. Seaweed on the sushi is always very tough and the creative rolls fail on execution and taste. I also am a bit suspect about the quality of the fish. When the only thing you like about a place are the tater-tots and the edamame, it is not a good thing. The service can be spotty. However, if you don't like real sushi, but like tempura you might really enjoy this place. It all depends on your taste. I have tried other things on the menu including the octopus salad and the curry friend rice and they also, like the sushi fail to be executed -- great ideas for dishes, but they fail on your plate.
The Kareoke night is fun as well as the speed bingo, but do yourself a favor and eat at home or somewhere else!
Not the best hostess but once we were seated (make a reservation) it got much better. The tater tots, sesame chicken + noodles and godzirra rolls were are tasty and well done. Would go back again!
It was a lot like I imagined dining inside an Urban Outfitters would be like. I will admit that I actually felt slightly confused when food was brought to me.
The restaurant's atmosphere is so super-hipster that it detracts from the food, rather than accentuating it: Although there were some good dishes, in the end, they weren't well distinguished from the mediocre-tasting dishes -- As tasty as the sticky balls were, the experience of eating them felt very empty. Sitting next to a pail of tater tots, in that red lacquered room, the food just seemed to lack any heart or soul.
Along with the Rock and Roll Hotel, this stands as H Street's hipster central., not that there's anything wrong with that.
I like Sticky rice, but let's get one thing straight: don't go to Sticky Rice looking for great sushi. Go to Sticky Rice looking for inexpensive, carbolicious goodness and you won't be disappointed. They keep it fun and inventive with things like Samurai Shrimp (shrimp tempura), tater tots, and their signature Sticky Rolls (inari shushi with crab, tuna and siracha). If you're going to go for sushi, stick with the rolls, those are hard to mess up. Saturday and Sunday brunch is a sure way to soak up the previous night's overindulgence.
As for the libations, in addition to several varieties of sake, there are three draft choices: Sapporo, Shock Top Wheat and Great Divide Samurai Rice Ale (unfiltered and strikingly similiar to a hefeweizen). 20 bottle and can beers, including the expected Sapporo, Kirin and Asahi Super Dry, but also inlcuding three varieites of Hitachino Nest (White Ale, Weizen and Stout), Sierra Nevada, Newcastle Brown and the requisite cans of PBR.
If you want sushi that tastes like a cheeseburger (think McDonald's cheeseburger, not a Ray's Hell Burger), then this is the place for you.
I was really excited to try Sticky Rice, having wanted to get there for ages. I had heard great things about the restaurant, how fun it was, etc. - though never about the food, which probably should have been a tip-off.
Upon sitting down at the restaurant, the BF remarked, "Wow. This is like being back in San Francsico." And, it was a super-hipster scene. I think the beauty of H Street is that it transcends a lot of that Georgetown vs. Columbia Heights mentality that goes on in this city. The people that hit up H Street are generally very chill and very friendly and are just interested in a good meal or an enjoyable experience. I think the "too-cool" hipster vibe was a detriment to the atmosphere at Sticky Rice, a blasé attitude seemed to pervade everything from our service to the meal itself.
Meh. Speaking of the meal. Not impressed. There is a place for fried sushi - hello, it's called tempura. However, tempura isn't probaly something you want to base an entire sushi menu on. It should serve to heighten the flavors of a crisp veggie or a fresh fish - not drown and flatten them. There was nothing light about Sticky Rice's menu, nothing felt fresh.
If you are looking for "outside-the-box" sushi (which was what I was hoping for from Sticky Rice) - I highly recommend Sei. It's a freaking arm and a leg, but honestly, the rolls are ingenious and surprising. And, don't even get me started on their delightful cocktail menu. You know how much I like to booze.
Not sure how I feel about this place. A bit pretentious- let's take it down a notch boo at the door, A you are the door chick=not tips and B you are in my hood- (not really but you get the idea) I think I just expected more and better- but that is because of you Yelpers. Now I will go back cause its close and I can wink the wino from the Pug into watching my car. The highpoint of the evening was the greatest discovery of the Nippon Empire- Saketini. Not sure either how I didn't get sick from the dred dude with no cap making sushi and all the folk fanning around behind the sushi bar upstairs. That ain't sanitary. And mine is more flavorful. Now all this being said, I will go back cause I promised a sick friend to go with her after recovery and its close.
Better. So the service was better this time and I tried a sushi dish, which was better as well. I'll give it one more try. My friends rave about this place and continue to bust a gasket over it and they usually aren't wrong. Guess I will try it all again...
Bland food and GOD AWFUL service. I asked for iced tea and some sugar packets because it was… Read more »
finally! good sushi in this city! if you're looking for interesting rolls, fresh fish, a bit of fusion and a kitschy atmosphere - then sticky rice is perfect for you.
me and my dining mate got a few rolls a tofu appetizer that was yumm and some sashimi - they actually have a lot of vegetarian rolls - which was pretty cool!
yum - i would go here again - the only bad part is that its in a really sketchy part of town - and so..that kinda makes me 'eh' about it. also - kitschy is cool..but this place kinda has a bit of a grimy feeling to it...just a little bit...
no brown rice = lame also - but i've yet to find a d.c. sushi spot with brown rice...so can't really blame them for that.
Decent, but needs work...I liked the general vibe of the place...hip, but not too pretentious, the Godfather playing on the big screen, good music and atmosphere. If you end up getting drinks there on a Sat, you will feel like a sardine in a can. There is no room, and you'll constantly been moving out of a server's way. Not their fault, of course, but you should know.
The main reason for my two star rating was the service. I had previously heard from someone in our party that they messed up their order on an earlier visit. When we got there, the hostess gave us tokens for free drinks because some folks were lingering at our table (very nice!). Once our party of eight was seated, the problems began. Two people ordered the Yellowtail and Sticky Rice was out (at 6:30 on a Sat). What made it worse, was that we weren't told until they were bringing the other entrees out. Then, one of the replacement orders was forgotten. The waitress should have stood over the chef to make sure that the 2nd order was completed. Her response was, "I'll take those orders off the bill." OF COURSE YOU WILL...WE NEVER GOT IT! She also forgot a round of drinks. We got the bill, and of course, one of the orders was still on it. The manager gave us more free drink chips, but cmon. I guess that's what happens when the gratutity for a large party is built in. That makes 2 separate times when the service was no good.
The food was decent, but not memorable. The tater tots are good, the edamame was okay, and my szechuan shrimp had a good kick. The menu had a pretty good options (but no brown rice).
If I went back, it would be with very low expectations.
To start things off, I just moved here from LA and after being subjected to throng after throng of bland crappy mayo filled sandwiches and lame pop collared sports bars, I was over joyed to find something that hinted of the quirky light hearted places I loved in ye ol' City of Angels.
This is not a place for purest sushi lovers but the prices were fantastic (at least in comparison to sushi in LA) the rolls were fun, some were tastier than others but thats to be expected. I like the experimentation! its like a mini food adventure with each roll, ask your self "does this roll taste like the name implies?" "what kind of person would have the balls to put sliced almonds on a sushi roll?" "was that amazingly tasty or just amazingly crazy?" the Tilapia sashimi was awesome, I was double stoked to see Tilapia on a menu, one my faves back home.
DO NOT pass up the tots! a WHOLE BUCKET! not like a bucket half filled with foil half with tots NO A WHOLE BUCKET!! i went out to eat with two full grown men and we couldn't dust off he whole thing.
our waitress was fantastic I even wrote down her name (Tory) super cute and really nice, maybe call ahead and see if she's working.
Sticky rice is fun, a little cheesy a little Kitsch but compared to all the super bland, poor presentation, run-of-the-mill, over priced "restaurants" I've had to suffer through in this city, Sticky rice delivers exactly what they advertise, fun, wacky food, loud music, cheep booze... truth in advertising.
I LOVE STICKY RICE! I am from Richmond, where the original is and was so pumped when I found out they were opening on here! The sushi is just as good as it is at home and the atmosphere is actually better! You have to get the TOTS for an appetizer and you have to get an order of the STICKY BALLS. I have probably gotten half the things on the menu at this point, and have been pleased with them all!
The atmosphere is great - a very chill spot and the prices are VERY REASONABLE. I haven't anytime thurs-sat, but I hear it gets pretty crazy later and I did have to wait for 30 min on a Monday. It is definitely worth the wait and the trip out to H street!
Sticky Rice Rocks!
My bestest took me here one day after work! I was a little skeptical because she told me she gets sushi and I'm not the biggest fan! But, like I always say, "I'm willing to try everything at least once."
The food is GREAT! And if you get nothing else, you HAVE to get an order of their Tots! They're the tater tots we used to eat in elementary school deep fried and served with this amazing sauce. Can we say addicted? It comes in either a small (bowl) or a large (BUCKET). We get the bucket every time we go.
I didn't order any sushi for me, but I must admit I ate some of hers. It's pretty good coming from a non-sushi lover.
And how could I forget about the bar? It's great! The bartenders are so cool you'll think they were your long time friend you haven't seen since elementary school when you used to eat those tater tots and fish sticks...lol! Make sure you ask for "K8 So Gr8" if you go on a Tuesday (Karaoke night)!
I had good vibes from the get-go since the restaurant's logo is a stylized Chinese "mi" (rice) character, that resembled grains of sticky rice visualized with big, plump strokes. Yeah. Big, plump strokes.
The inside is neato and done up completely unlike your typical sushi/Asian conglomerate place. Exposed brick and deep booths (fitting you and your five closest skinny friends), beers actually ON TAP, dimmed lights instead of creepy pink and purple mood lighting, and self-deprecating dish names (Godzirra, ho ho, the irony). I liked that the downstairs bathroom doors were hinged like Japanese noren curtains (but went all the way to the floor, thankfully). I was early meeting a friend here and nabbed a bar stool right in front of the three (maybe four) taps and ordered a Samurai beer brewed by Great Divide. It was a (what else) rice beer, nice and dry that would complement most of the food there. Bartenders were efficient and amiable, and engaged me in tipsy banter.
You can choose your noodle size with some of the dishes (udon, vermicelli, buckwheat, or forego noodles and have just plain rice); I chose udon with my green curry with pork. Maybe a bizarre combination, but it worked. It was spicier than I expected, but the vegetables were fresh and crispy, the presentation was cool in a deep stoneware bowl, and it was large enough that I couldn't finish it. And I finish everything.
Anyway, the atmosphere is cool, the music is good, and the food is tasty, but nothing stellar. I'd probably give more stars if I tasted more items on the menu or stayed a little longer.
Kind of a sketchy area so you have to drive. Make sure you're with a group of people! The tots are what everyone raves about and although they're good with the dipping sauce, they still ARE just tater tots. The sushi is pretty alright. Mainly everyone there needs to get off their effing high horse. I know you work at a trendy restaurant.. does that really make you that cool of a person? Mm okay
The smell of deep fryer oil hung in the air as we walked into Sticky Rice on Thursday night. Acceptable when I'm waiting for fried chicken at my neighborhood soul food place, but a little strange for first impressions of an eatery that I've heard friends and co-workers rave about for the past few months.
We were seated upstairs and helped by a waitress who let us peruse the multiple-page menu at our leisure. We ordered drinks, tater tots, and an assortment of sushi. I expected the tater tots to come out first but instead they did not make an appearance until we were halfway through our sushi. I'm less than thrilled about alternating bites of fish and rice with fried potato but the tots were crispy and the dipping sauce (sriracha mayo) a nice option.
I opted for nigiri sushi - mackerel (saba), tamago (egg) - and a spicy tuna roll. The fish was sliced nicely - no thick slabs of fish (thankfully), and the tamago had the typical egg sweetness that I crave. The mounds of rice that the fish/egg sat atop were a little massive - definitely not one-bite portioning and almost dwarfing the fish. I also found the rice to be underseasoned and a bit cold.
The spicy tuna roll had a Sticky Rice twist that caught me by surprise - the menu doesn't indicate that the spice comes from the roll being coated on the outside with spicy powder (cayenne? I'm not sure?) - which gave the roll a different sort of spicy kick than I'm used to, and also caught in my throat a bit (in a way that inhaling a powdery substance might.)
Although our service was great (the waitress was friendly and when my spicy tuna roll failed to appear...and failed to appear... she comped the roll when it finally arrived, no questions asked), the food itself left me kinda "meh." I'd return to Sticky Rice in a pinch, though I'd probably stick to their other dishes.
The Sticky Balls alone are worth the trip to Sticky Rice.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Wow! My mouth's watering just thinking about those Balls!
Teri Rialto: It's been years since I've seen any Balls.
Pete Schweddy: Would you like to see my Balls now?
Margeret Jo McCullen: Yeah. Whip them out.
Teri Rialto: Mmm.. wow.. you have some beautiful Balls..
Margeret Jo McCullen: They're bigger than I expected.
Pete Schweddy: A lot of people tell me that.
Much like Schweddy Balls, the Sticky Balls are larger than expected and make the mouth water. So glad that my friend Mel suggested them, or I probably wouldn't have picked them out of all the other interesting things on the menu. They are basically two huge deep-fried maki rolls, cut into 3 pieces each. They have a nice kick from the Siracha!
The Billy Goat's Gruff (yellowtail wrapped goat cheese) was also a good choice. They are three small and extremely rich pieces, so expect that selection to be more about flavor than filling your belly.
AND they have Firefly vodka! My favorite. Unfortunately, they were out of lemonade and the waitress told me that a bit of sour mix had the same effect. Not really. But I liked her anyway.
Note that we called a little before 6 for reservations on a Thursday, and they said we'd have to arrive before 6:30 to get a table. Not sure if they were just playing it safe, since it wasn't packed toward the end of our meal, but a birthday party did come in just as we were leaving.
I got a coupon from http://restaurant.com so I was able to try this on the cheap. I highly recommend checking out that site. (make sure you search for extra coupon codes too)
The sushi roll was the gluey-est and mushiest I've ever had. The rice was just one solid mass. The nori was also gluey. It was awful, worse than grocery store sushi. Sticky balls were good, in that deliciously-bad sort of way. All of the flavors just mush together; you can't really make out any of the individual flavors or that there's tuna and sriracha in there. But I ate the whole thing. I bet they're even better drunk. Speaking of which, saketini was good and if i remember correctly, only $7 or so.
I thought it was funny that someone here described it as an emo sushi place. Now that I've been, that describes it perfectly. I don't hate on the emo, I just think it's a funny concept.
FINALLY made it to Sticky Rice.
More interesting than the restaurant itself, was our trek to the restaurant, via Metro (Union Station) and by foot. Having never ventured this way before, and it being a trek through a sketch area at 9:30 pm, my friend Court and I started telling each other, "yeah, we're ok, we don't look out of place at all..." We pass a group of 10 guys, who proceed to ask us where we're going. We keep it short, we're going out to eat. They keep yelling things down the block like "We don't get girls around here like yall!", "DAMN! Yall fine as hell!", "Come hang with the earthlings!", "Where you goin, Sticky Rice?!", yes, they even knew where we were going...
We make it to the restaurant, and wait around for about 10 minutes for a hostess to show up. In the meantime, we down a sake bomb- sake shot with a beer- which was unimpressive. She comes, we sit almost right away at the sushi bar upstairs.
The vegan menu isn't as extensive as I thought it would be. We got a bucket of tots- which is literally, a bucket of tots, we were able to eat through about 3 quarters of it- and also got a vegan version of their self proclaimed famous tot sauce. Two orders of vegan rolls- spicy avocado which was awwwesome. And fried garden balls, which were very saucy- a bit too much for my taste, but tasty. I would come back for the spicy avocado rolls and a side order of tots. One long island iced tea and two vodka tonics later, we were full, tipsy and ready to hit the town. Our bill came to about $55, not bad at all. Our waitress was pleasant and efficient.
Best part of the night, we got 4 tokens for free drinks at the bar. I think they kinda wanted us to stick around, as it seemed like a slow night, but we're eager to head out. We go downstairs, order our drinks (4 vodka tonics) and head back out to Union Station- this time via cab.
All in all, Sticky Rice is kosher. Am I eager to go back? Not really, but I would. So that makes it A-OK.
Don't call me a hipster, as long as your a read-errrrrrr
Place is very very hipster. With sushi specials on chalkboards to the Kung-Fu flicks playing on the projector, Sticky Rice has a bebop environment to make even the oldest fart on the SR dance floor feel like Miles Davis. The music there is dope and they played current electro jams when I went on a Saturday night.
I enjoyed my first visit at Sticky Rice. The bottom floor on Saturday was jam packed and wild. So my party went to the top floor and chilled outside. It is a very lax environment. Didn't get a chance to try the food though.
Man this place is good. It has a pretty good vibe too, but is loud. Also, some of the best prices on sushi I have seen around. They also have a solid and tasty menu outside of their sushi selections. The place is pretty small and crowded, and we had to wait about 35 minutes for a 4top table, which is a problem I dont normally encounter in DC (with there being so many restaurants to choose froM). The tater tots were a great change of pace, but make sure to save room!!!!!
Go to Sticky Rice focused. Don't get distracted by the tasty-sounding, actually forgettable jazzed up sushi options. Steer clear of the sandwiches and salads.
Just order the Veggie Tofu Medley. I refer to this dish as Vegan Yum Yum because that is what it is. I'm not vegan or even vegetarian any longer (my friends say I'm "cured"), but it makes no difference and you won't miss any animals. This dish is heavenly, huge and satisfying. I don't know what is in the sauce and I don't care, I just want to eat it. The veggies are crisp, the tofu plentiful and the noodles covered in the right amount of tangy sauciness.
I have been to Sticky Rice too many times to try new things on the menu and I always always end up wishing I had ordered the five star Vegan Yum Yum. The rest is three stars.
Just moved to the H street area and the first place I tried (a referral from a friend) was Sticky Rice. Besides the area which was a bit suspect, I'm still getting use it, the place was a good time.
Came with my girlfriends and the wait was a bit long, but the bar downstairs made up for it. The ambiance was laid back and hip. The crowd was diverse and not rowdy. When we finally were seated upstairs, the tables were a bit wobbly and the seating was a bit stiff but with the decor it pulled everything together. The music playing was great since my girlfriends and I appreciate some 90's music and old school hip hop. The Whole time we were there, everyone was taking turns singing to the songs that were playing.
The drinks are like any other place you go to in DC and the food was satisfying, the sushi isn't the best but it isn't the worst either. I have to add that they do have some good sticky balls as stated in other reviews! I definitely enjoyed the Sunday brunch with some sakimosas.
Overall, I enjoy the atmosphere, the crowd and the music. I am now a repeat customer and will continue to be one......
After hearing great things about Sticky Rice for months, my friends and I gave it a try on a hot Saturday afternoon...the perfect environment for fresh sushi and cold beers (mmm...day drinking).
While they LOVED it, my taste buds were a bit over stimulated. We tried a few of their 'specialty' rolls and they simply had too much going on. Call me a purist, but when I'm eating sushi, I like to taste the fish.
While I appreciate the creativity of the menu (and admittedly I could have ordered some of their more traditional fare) I don't think I'll be trekking over to the Atlas District for sushi anytime soon. With that being said, if I lived in the neighborhood, I'd probably give it another shot.
Oh, and they did have a wicked huge bucket of tater tots which didn't hurt their cause.
One of my girlfriends from Richmond suggested I go to Sticky Rice for some good sushi. I have been very disappointed with sushi restaurants in DC. Unfortunately, I feel like a lot of places do not have very good sushi, yet charge a lot for it. I really enjoyed my experience at Sticky Rice.
The wait staff is very friendly and the sushi was delicious. This is a great place for a date or even better place for a group. The prices are some of the best in the city for good sushi!
Marred with creativity is what i really respect at this innovative sushi spot. I truly love how contemporary and idealistic their Maki sushi is. My recent visit was rather tasty. With a spread of Sticky Balls, Millenium roll, Drawn-N-Buttered, and The Hot Hippie, i was in heaven. Although i will have to admit the service has changed quite a bit to the negative. When the kitchen gets backed up, all of the orders take forever. I am just glad that this spot still serves PBR and decent portioned sushi. However a bit pricey, its worth it for the environment and the crowd.
The key to Sticky Rice is to avoid the sushi and instead focus on the glorious tater tots. While the sushi falters on a number of levels (see Jack F.'s review), the tater tots are served with a Cock Sauce infused aioli that pleasures the soul. You simply cannot go wrong by ordering these delightful potato creations.
As far as drinking is concerned, I nearly puked when I saw the consistency of the unfiltered house sake. It looked liked semen. I assumed it wasn't and drank it down (potentially throwing a lifetime of being straight overboard in the process). It wasn't bad, but if you are a straight guy, do not order it. You will be sick.
On the bright side, for all the Southerners out there, they DO carry Firefly sweet tea infused vodka. This drink has become wildly popular in the Deep South, and I'm happy to see that at least one place in DC has decided to carry it.
On every occasion that I have visited Sticky Rice, I have been an avid fan of their music selection. On this occasion, we were treated to mainstream 90's punk rock with Rancid prominently involved in the selected tracks. Good stuff.
The waitstaff here was extremely professional while remaining lighthearted and cool. No complaints from me in that regard.
Overall, Sticky Rice is a fine place for your H St rotation. While it doesn't have the atmosphere of the Palace of Wonders, the beer selection of Granville Moore's, or the dirt cheap prices of the Pug, it is certainly worth a trip for the tater tots.
Last year I started my Sticky Rice birthday tradition. It continued last night. I had gotten a $100 dollar gift certificate at http://Restaurants.com for 12 dollars. Yes, there are some stipulations--you have to spend 200 on food, and it can't be used Fri/Sat---but if you know you having a big group and will be eating lots of sushi it is a great deal.
I called two days before my birthday to make a reservation for my BIG group. Hazel answered the phone and helped me make the reservation. When I arrived she was there, and she was our server--she was so helpful and nice. The service really made getting a big group of friends together easily. Hazel was great in letting me keep two separate tabs--one for food and one for drinks. In the Dutch way I treated my friends to the food---its a tradition in Holland that the birthday person treats there friends.
Anyway--for 200 dollars we got tons of sushi and tons of apps. I think the 15 or so people that joined me were sufficiently fed.
As always great atmosphere and food. Can't wait till next year.
The Summer Sashimi was delightful! I had never ventured into the world of raw fish alone on a plate,… Read more »
Terrible sushi... the california roll did not even taste like one! If you want better sushi, go to Union Station's sushi place. They make it better than these guys. The service is not so great either, it took 50 minutes just to get two california rolls and they force a 18% tip on you by charging it to your card with the bill. I was unable to give them a tip they deserved for the terrible food and service. Avoid the food by all means! The bar would be the only reason to go here.
SETTING: Dinner for two on a Tuesday at 8:30.
VENUE/DECOR:
Epitome of exposed brick & rafters style. Ikea paper lanterns and parasols... which is fien since you know this when you go.
Loud downstairs, a bit more open & hushed upstairs.
SERVICE:
He was a bit rushed so we were patient, but if we were in a rush it might not have been so nice. He was friendly though so all is okay.
ENTREES:
Avocado Rolls are just that.
Edamame have the nice includion of sesame seeds. Not the thickest, hair-less of the edamame I've tried, but still okay. (Try smoked ones at Mie N Yu.)
Tater Tots just like mom made... only with a nice cream sauce.
DRINKS:
Firefly Iced Tea Vodka in strongly-herbal iced tea. $6... need two to make for anything though.
VERDICT:
Will go again. Booths for groups of 6. A bit loud for effective groups otherwise. Casual date. Not so hot for families unless you make a reservation and ask to sit upstairs.
P.S. MAKE A RESERVATION. Last time it was a Thurs and they said 40mins for 2.
Sushi with cream cheese, I believe, is an abomination.
But I'm not a purist by any means, so Sticky Rice sounded promising. Start with the tuna bites: fresh on the inside and seared well on the outside. The tofu bites could use less teriyaki sauce, the rice could use more vinegar, and the spider rolls could use a little something I can't quite pinpoint. The nigiri needed bigger pieces of fish, which, by the way, was average. The mackerel was surprisingly good, compared with everything else on the plate. So was the bowl of poke (the dish, not the gesture), compliments of the chef. Arigato gozaimasu!!
Would have been three stars but for the bathroom, which smells like they rent it out for golden showers during off-hours. And why is the sushi bar back there? Am I to associate your food with the smell of pee?
Neighborhood: H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast
Category: Caribbean
Neighborhood: H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast
Category: Delis
Neighborhood: H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast
Category: Restaurants
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